Down Royal Racecourse has collected the Racecourse of the Year award at the annual event organised by Horse Racing Ireland.

The prestigious event is staged at Leopardstown and the guest of honour was Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed TD while guests and dignitaries were welcomed by Chairman of Horse Racing Ireland Joe Keeling.

Down Royal's General Manager Mike Todd said: "I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to pick up the award on behalf of the course and the team who make the course what it is throughout the year and especially race days.

"It's truly the icing on the cake after such a successful Festival which attracted a record crowd and some of the best horses in Ireland which will be Cheltenham Festival contenders in March.

"I would like to thank HRI for acknowledging our efforts at the track."

Horse Racing Ireland said: "Down Royal is one of the most popular and progressive racecourses in the country and has undergone a huge amount of development and improvement over the past decade and hosts the first Grade 1 race of the jumps season every year."